News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-03-31
LIFE IN THE OLD WORLD.
RELIGIOUS JuGGLEnY IN ALGIrRs.
Singular Scene Graphically Described by
LoOker-on
From he 81. .LnneS,s Gn.et,s.

From he 81. JdmeS's Gazette,
Mr.. Fitzgerald Molloy sends us tn
following communication from Algiers
Last night al extraordinary religion
ceremony was celebrated here by tn
Alssaoui, fraternity numbering anon!
Its members Arabs, Nubians, and IA
byles. he scene of the rite was TIT
open courtyard of house i'll the Aral
quarter of the town. This court en-
trance to which was obtained by dark
narrow vestibule opening from tn,
street-was paved with red tiles, sur
rounded by columns supporting horse
shoe shaped arches, which in turn up
held an upper gallery, tie pillars Of
which were connected by stone balus
trade high. On this occasion the
tiles were covered by mating, over
which was spread Persian carpet. In
the centre stood q low table. on which a
tall candle burnt; and On it also were an
urn filed with burning Goals, a naked
sword, a spear, and the leaf of a prickly
pear. In an apartment looking on the
court some venerab chiefs in tur ans
and snowy burnous-grave, dignifed,
silent sat cross legged on low couches
In the court, seated in like manner and
forming a semicircle round the table
with its solitary light and grim weapons,
were about 90 men, serene eyed and
mostly white bearded In the gallery
above, yelled Moorish women looked
down upon the scene. On a rope sus-
pended from the columns swung an oil
lamp. The court yard was crowded
with dark faced Arabs and Kabyles, who
presented in the half light o picture no
words can paint.
At a sign from the master Of the Ger
omonies,, who was seated in the semi
circle, those surrounding him began to
beat tambours, the sound of which fell
in rhythmic measure. To this was
pleasantly added a monotonOus chant,
rising and falling with equal cadence
Occasionally and suddenly there broke
from the women above a wild cry, hav-
ing nothing plaintive and little human
in its tones, appealing like the notes of
q trapped bird, uncanny as laughter
heard in sleep, the while an Arab boy,
seated by the urn, flung incense from
time to time into the burning Goals I'M
til heavy fragrant smoke filed the air
When the beating of the tambours had
continued for about fifteen minutes, an
old man sprang from amongst the spec
tators into the semi-circIe, with all the
gestures of a maniac-jumping into the
air, finging his hands wildly about,
and swaying his head to and fro in a
manner that would have seemed gro
tesque had it been less painful to wit
ness. By degrees, and with some diff
fculty, an attendant removed his turban,
scarf, and short jacket. The tambours
now beat more violently, the chant be |
came more vigorous and the incense |
heavier than before. The old man |
face was deathly pale, and his eyes were |
glazed and fixed, his scattered grew |
hairs stood up as if from fright. His |
frantic movements gradually increased |
and, when he had arrived at the crisis
Of his frenzy, the sword lying on the |
table was passed to the chiefs, who,
blessing it, handed it back. The mas
ter OF the ceremonies then presented it
to the fanatic, who, seizlng it with a
frantic cry and waving it several times
over his head, plunged Tor it seemed to
plunge) it into his neck. The blade |
would not penetrate. Placing the han
lie of the sword against one shoulder of |
one near him, he leaned on the |
point; but with like effect. Having barred |
MS waist, he then caught the sword at |
lilt and point, and struck his body with /
he edge of the blade several times,
bowling and gesticulatlng the while:
out the skin seemed uniniured. He |
next struck the point upon his side; but |
no trace of blood was visable. FINALLY. |
he placed one foot upon the burninn |
Goals, holding it there for couule Of |
minutes, and then removing IT. sappar |
entity Vsithout injury. After this his
gestures became more frantic; he howl
en- and jumped into the air, until be
suddenly fell into the arms of two men
Meanwhile two young men had, with
piercing cries, jumped into the circle
and, each with his arm around the 9th
er's waist, swayed their heads backwards
and forwards, gently at frst,szbut With
ever increasing violence. until tliefr
chins touched, their chests ana the backs
OF their heads. touched their backs.
Their strong frames trembled in every |
limb, their dark faces became distorted |
Nothing more terrible can be imagined |
than the appearance they presented. In
due time one was given a red hot shovel.
which he received with frantic wells and |
gestures of delight, rubbed his fingers
on 1t repeatedly, and licked It again and |
again, growing after each act with savage
glee. The other was. then presented |
with spear, which he$ suddenly stuck |
into one eye; but, with no apparent in. |
Jury or pam. He then took the spear,
ana resting the point against his
stomach, struck the handle with large
stone; Duf though the stone broke, the |
spear never penetrated beyond the skin. |
PRESENTLY these men fell down exhaust
ca others, IN the course of the even |
lI came forward IN like manner. IN |
eee nlust. Oh ms contortlons one
:, I '.t bnem LOOK a i've scorpion, held it
peI"een AIS TEEN, and thEn ate it with
ap9sStnJ srellsh t. sfise took q |
of s|sssr and chew
ed it;~but w # ..lass fron r.
mouth. Thi5 ]. 81 ||sr who nar'
formed the saf3a RE roared like beasts
and in taking ni6>$hfu s of the nrickIv
pear thrus forward thar ~
80. .isLuo, which were Tree to convey it to